Two decades of community forestry in Nepal: What have we learned?
Two decades of community forestry in Nepal: What have we learned?
Two decades of community forestry in Nepal: What have we learned?
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<strong>Two</strong> <strong>decades</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>community</strong> <strong>forestry</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Nepal</strong>: <strong>What</strong> <strong>have</strong> <strong>we</strong> <strong>learned</strong>?<br />
2. EVOLUTION OF PROJECT<br />
IMPLEMENTATION MODALITY<br />
“This project believes <strong>in</strong> transparency and quality. It has regularly updated its activities,<br />
approaches and strategies.”<br />
Kumbha Raj Lama, DoF<br />
“Adm<strong>in</strong>istrative and operational costs <strong>of</strong> the project seem much higher than the programme<br />
costs because <strong>of</strong> the parallel structure created for project implementation.”<br />
Balaram Adhikari, DoF<br />
Various issues are important <strong>in</strong> consider<strong>in</strong>g the manner <strong>of</strong> NSCFP’s<br />
implementation, but fi rst and foremost is the long time period that the project has<br />
covered. As remarked <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>troduction, this has provided a major opportunity to<br />
both develop a long term vision, and to adapt accord<strong>in</strong>g to circumstances. T<strong>we</strong>nty<br />
years ago, the direct implementation <strong>of</strong> development projects by donors, with a<br />
number <strong>of</strong> expatriates <strong>in</strong> key positions, was the norm. For a <strong>community</strong> <strong>forestry</strong><br />
project, the Department <strong>of</strong> Forests was then the obvious implement<strong>in</strong>g partner,<br />
given the relatively <strong>we</strong>ak nature <strong>of</strong> civil society organisations and the fact that the<br />
forests concerned are State property. In fact, <strong>in</strong> the fi rst exploratory phase, SDC<br />
channelled almost all fund<strong>in</strong>g directly through the Department <strong>of</strong> Forests under<br />
so-called “Red Book fund<strong>in</strong>g 3 ,” and had only m<strong>in</strong>imal local staffi ng – plus a<br />
resident expatriate adviser and periodic consultants. It was <strong>in</strong> the second and<br />
subsequent phases that the move was taken to make a signifi cant split <strong>in</strong><br />
fi nanc<strong>in</strong>g bet<strong>we</strong>en “Red Book” and direct fund<strong>in</strong>g – the latter cover<strong>in</strong>g activities<br />
such as human resource development, action research and agr<strong>of</strong>orestry. These<br />
<strong>we</strong>re managed through separate project staff and <strong>of</strong>fi ces (<strong>in</strong> Kathmandu and at<br />
district level), with strong <strong>in</strong>volvement <strong>of</strong> expatriate staff <strong>in</strong> all aspects <strong>of</strong> project<br />
cycle management as <strong>we</strong>ll as technical assistance.<br />
The pattern <strong>of</strong> separate project <strong>of</strong>fices, once set, rema<strong>in</strong>ed to the end <strong>of</strong> NSCFP.<br />
The establishment <strong>of</strong> parallel structures is widely questioned <strong>in</strong> development<br />
circles today, but given the multi-partnership model <strong>of</strong> the project that developed,<br />
it would <strong>have</strong> been extremely diffi cult to operate <strong>in</strong> any other way especially dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the confl ict period. A team <strong>of</strong> specialised and dedicated full time project staff was<br />
essential for the same reason. A similar modality may be observed <strong>in</strong> other projects,<br />
such as the DFID-funded Livelihoods Forestry Project (LFP) and the former <strong>Nepal</strong><br />
Australia Community Forestry Project (NACFP).<br />
3 The Red Book is the budget for the entire estimated Government <strong>of</strong> <strong>Nepal</strong> expenditure for one fi nancial year. It is<br />
drawn up annually by the M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> F<strong>in</strong>ance, and covers all available funds - from own sources, and from foreign<br />
agency grants and loans. Under “Red Book” donor fund<strong>in</strong>g, the Government <strong>of</strong> <strong>Nepal</strong> agrees to undertake certa<strong>in</strong><br />
activities <strong>in</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e with their regular duties and is then reimbursed on a timely basis by the donor, based on actual<br />
expenses. Effectively, this is budget support. By contrast, non-government organisations such as FECOFUN<br />
<strong>we</strong>re contracted to implement specifi c activities on behalf <strong>of</strong> NSCFP; they did not receive budget support.<br />
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